101 Auntie E Street, Bloggersville, USA

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

As we reach retirement age, one thinks of where they want to live. Most folks think of downsizing cause the kids are gone and the house is too large. However does that really matter in the century?
The thing I have notice in the neighborhood and with friends is the kids come back home in their 30's. Also the Parents and brother and sisters seem to move in also. It seems harder in this century for them to keep a job and hold down a apartment at the same time. Families are more and more occupying one house, Living together and sharing the expenses.
Do not think this is a bad thing. Just need a bigger place, so we are not on top of each other. That is why we are looking into a five bedroom, three bath large home. So no down sizing for us. Looking at the options make us realize that we can surely do this. Location is the thing to look at. A place that will provide the activities we seek as well as the health care we think we will need. The more we look at places in the United States the more we learn about areas.

The questions one need to ask are:

What kind of seasons are you looking for? Do you want snow sometimes. Maybe you want hotter or cooler seasons. Perhaps you want it drier with less humidity.

What kind of activities are offered? Outdoor fun is high on some list. Even plays, shows are a desire. Not to mention the festivals throughout the year. Different cities and towns have various activities that are a constant reoccurring item.

What about Health Care? The Most important thing in aging folks. Is there good medical facilities. Does the area take our insurance. So many aspects to look into to with this question.

Are the colleges and school good? Ratings of the school is important. Even if one thinks I will be in this home forever, that might not happen.For many reason one might need to move. You want to make sure the house is marketable. We found that some college give free admission to seniors. Giving them the abilities to keep their minds going. We are always learning until we die.

How close to family do you want to be? Another question to be explore.

How close is the church? This is also important so we can be involved in week activites.

How close to a city do you want to be? Country or City living, Which one? We prefer City living, however country is nice also. So our choice is within a 15 minute drive to a fairly large city with a international airport. We still love to travel.

We asked ourselves all this questions and keep them in the back of our minds. Often the answers change and make us rethink things. However the size of the home is still steady. The area might change. Our likes might differ from time to time. The one thing we did decide is that we will probably purchase a New home in a New community near a big city. It is important to make friends and will be a lot easier in a new community. Also a large city offer an array of activities. Living in a tri-city area has spoiled us.Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington DC area has been so great for us. So many opportunities in the area.

Retirement can be an exciting time. We just need to plan it out, leaving the move to be less stressful. Allowing ourselves to enjoy the relocation. Making our hearts leap with joy with the new adventure in our live.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Ever have that feeling that you are missing something? You know that notion when something just doesn't seem right. Yeah it is a very strange feeling. Trying to just let it go is not easy.

I feel that way often. Not sure why but the awkwardness of it is uneasy. For years I have been okay with it. Now in my older years things are creeping up. Feeling I will be left out and end up all alone. Okay I know you are saying, Aye but life doesn't always turn out the way we think. That might be so.

Let's look at how things could be. Family members that do their own things. Live their own way. Yes I did that earlier. Only looking at the now. As we age our thoughts broaden making one aware of the changes in life. Changing the viewpoint on oneness. Creating a need to include others in the family. Even changing the way we think about where to live. Making us think about what really matters.

The Changes of growing old , Retirement Ideas and Love ones being far away. We are in a strange generation, one that has aging parents. The children in their 60's having to take care of their 80 plus parents. Some loving it and dutifully do it. Others that only want the "Lord to Come Now" cause they can not bare life anymore.

I love my Life! Love to go places see the world and spend time with Love ones. Yes even though I have those moments of that Left Out Syndrome, That joy of a new life or a new discovery makes my day brighter. It brings me out of that Left out moment. All the changes of Children leaving home. Job changes and the aging process that bring retirement closer. Those things are big hurdles in life. Finding fillers and nor losing ourselves in the process is a challenge.

Traveling brightens up my spirit. There are so many things we haven't enjoyed. That Bucket list we all carry around in our heads. Someday I will....... those words spoken...... when I get older we will do this or that. Now is the time to be sure we do not miss out doing those things that we put off until later. Later has come! We are getting ready to spend another vacation in Tennessee. Looking forward to new adventures and discoveries. I know we will so enjoy that time together.

England is on our list, maybe soon! Any friends out there? Let's go.

"Grinding with Auntie E" is a thoughtful post that takes a feeling and puts a spin on it. Hopefully making one think and changes a thought into a positive view.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

So, recently a family member made it very clear to me that he wishes to have nothing to do with me. Boy I just do not know what I did to deserve such a mean thing!? However, I will honor his wishes. For a "Family" man, this is not right. He made it clear I was not in the circle of his Family members. This really hurts, but I guess that is how some folks are. He has been making it clear for some time, since the Christmas Holidays, I thought it was just a busy time for them. Now I know, that was not the case. It is Sad to have to be distant from a family member when I Love him so much. Well Such is life. I have my husband, my daughter and my Dad and hopefully my other brothers. That will have to do. I wish him happiness always.

I have to say he seems to be nice when he wanted something from me. After my Mom's Death he seemed better. I am thinking now he wanted something. He has always stated he wants a family that stays together. That is why he home schooled his kids as long as they let him. It is why he moved out to the hills. To keep them true to his ways. These kind of things can sometimes backfire.

I would say that his kids are like normal kids, into normal things of the world. They are all sweet and kind and seem to be great folks. Sometimes I wonder if trying to shelter them is for not. Kids seem to grow into their own identity. Becoming whom they dream of being. Nothing can stop that process, not even Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents.

I have a close relationship with my Parents. When I was in my 20's I realized how smart they were and that I need some of their wisdom and guidance. We talk about everything, even the family members and issues. Wills and Estate Planning, politics and religion, we spoke of even though sometimes we did not agree, we still get along great.

We went on Vacations together and even lived together during my husbands overseas duty. We celebrated our special occasions together. When Mom got Cancer she called me right away and I was there for her til the end of her watch. I really miss her. Dad and I are still the same, love being together and spending as much time as we can.

Even though my brothers are all over the place, it has not hindered my relationship with them. I even thought my relationship with the former one was somewhat okay. Recently I visited my older brother and he is doing well. I plan to see more of him in the near future. My Younger brother I see when I visit Dad. He is struggling some but I love him and will be there for his needs. The Nieces, nephews Great nieces and Great nephews want us to visit and be part of their family. That I am very grateful for. Love spending time with them.

Overall I feel that my Family Matters to me and I only wish that my one brother would come out of his box and join the fun times. Holding on to decades of memories is not good. People grow up and change. I say that because one of my brothers told me something that was said to him years ago. That made me think that, just maybe my brother is harboring things of the past. We all Grow up and the teens years are difficult years. A time when one is spreading their wings. Sometimes the other family members do not know the situation and draw the wrong conclusion. Which they hold onto for years, making it a fact in their mind. That leads to Harboring things that separate families.

Well I will still love the family members and have as much to do with them as they let me. Family Does Matter and we all should embrace each other for the time here on Earth.